Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) SADC sends taskforce to Zimbabwe

SADC sends taskforce to Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporters
21/10/2009 00:00:00

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma said Zimbabwe will not be allowed to “slide back into instability” after meeting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s Defence and Security Organ is expected in Zimbabwe next week to try and break an impasse between Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe which is threatening to unravel a power sharing government formed in February.

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, the current chairman of the rotating organ on Security and Defence, assured Tsvangirai after a meeting in Chimoio, in the central province of Manica, that an emergency taskforce would be sent to talk to the three main parties before reporting to a SADC troika meeting scheduled for Harare which both Mugabe and Tsvangirai will attend on October 30.

Tsvangirai travelled to neighbouring Mozambique on Monday, his first stop in a wide tour across the SADC region as he seeks the support of Zimbabwe’s neighbours to put pressure on Mugabe and his Zanu PF party to resolve what the MDC says are “outstanding issues” from a September 15, 2008, power sharing agreement.

The MDC wants the unilateral appointment of the Attorney General and Reserve Bank governor by Mugabe reversed, and a speedy resolution of other appointments – including governors and ambassadors.

The MDC tripped last week after Tsvangirai’s pick for Deputy Agriculture Minister Roy Bennett – who is yet to be sworn in -- was indicted on terrorism charges.

Tsvangirai announced last Friday that his party was “disengaging” all contact with the “dishonest” Zanu PF, and on Tuesday, his party’s 13 ministers skipped a Cabinet meeting chaired by Mugabe.

After meeting Tsvangirai in Cape Town, Zuma said he was concerned with the situation in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe should not be allowed to slide back into instability,” he said.

In Johannesburg, an aide to Tsvangirai told a Wits University lecture that Zimbabwe's government of national unity would continue unless constitutional reform was derailed.

“If Zanu PF derailed the constitutional [reform] then there would be no reason to stay in government,” the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office Gorden Moyo said.

Despite criticism of the government of national unity (GNU), Moyo said it still had the support of members of Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Tomaz Salomao, SADC’s executive secretary said the “troika” mission early next week would be followed by a meeting to be held on Friday in Harare between Mugabe, Tsvangirai, as well as Mutambara. President Guebuza is set to attend that meeting.

Salomao said Tsvangirai is aware that the solution to overcoming the problems was for Zimbabweans themselves not to create a perception of a country in permanent crisis whose solution depends on others.

"It is up to Zimbabweans overcome this crisis and the Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai is also clear. Better than anyone, they all three (Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara) know what is good for Zimbabwe and what is not," Salomao said.

Labels: NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT, SADC

posted by MrK @ 5:27 AM